Question
fungus
I planted a no-dig veggie garden just over a month ago, using a combination
of horse manure, pea straw and good quality compost/soil. I noticed
yesterday some small creamy white sticky spores spreading over patches in
the soil and up stalks of lettuces and silverbeat. Today it has spread quickly
and changed into larger puffs and darkening in colour, to light brown, and
even dark brown and black. The fungus spreads to other plants from leaves
leaning near it and along the ground up leaves and probably through the
roots as it comes up the stalk in some places. in one day it has almost
covered a hole lettuce! I looked in an organic gardening book and thought it
might be downey mildew, so followed the advice to spray affected areas with
1/10 milk to water solution and put seeweed fertilizer on the ground. this
may have dried up a lot of the fungus, which is now grey and crumbly but
more small white fungus is coming up in areas. Can you tell me what it might
be and if there is any chance for my veggies and soil?
AnswerAntonia,
I do not envy your situation. I will tell you I am not familiar with gardening in Australia however having any type of fungus in your garden will defiantly damage your crop. It could be downey or powdery mildew, both spread quickly and stunt the plants growth. There is one other product you can try called Neem oil which is organic and may can control this fungus.
Usually what happens is that if you planted seedlings, one or more of the seedlings were infected and when the weather and moisture content was right it developed quickly.
I have 2 suggestions for you.
1. Try the Neem oil and if you do not see results within a day or two, I suggest you remove the all the plants (roots and all), treat the soil with the Neem oil and replant after a couple of days.
2. Take a sample of the fungus to your local extension office (or equivalent) and let them test it to see exactly what you have. This may take a bit longer reducing your growing time if you do have to replant.
Remember, as your probably already know, to always water early in the morning making sure that your plants are dry during the cooling time of the night and make sure that your plants are getting enough air flow. This is help reduce the growth of any type of mildew or fungus. I hope this helps and good luck. I would like to know what happens so what ever you choose to do please let me know.
Thanks,
Greg
